"Cheryl's friends know it's a case of when and not if she will go back to him," a source told the News of the World. "She wants to follow her heart and do what will make her happy.

"She doesn't want to wait till she's over 30 to start a family. And she thinks Ashley's the most natural person to be dad to her babies. What's happening with Ashley is giving her reason for hope."

Meanwhile, a friend of Cheryl's said she blames other people for her 'quickie' divorce: "Cheryl has told Ashley she felt pressured [to divorce him], with managers, Simon [Cowell], Derek [Hough], friends, family and the public making it clear staying was untenable.

"Simon told her she'd have no career in America if she did. Well look at how that's turned out."